Mission Complete

SHADOW

I shifted the vibe.

Perfect. My Bluish-purple Magic Power began raging around me like a localized hurricane.

"Absurd..."

"What magic power this is..."

I started walking. Click. Click. I made sure my Jet-black Boots rang out with a nice, heavy rhythm as I casually approached the Queen of Blood.

Obviously, she wasn't going to let me just stroll up to her.

In an instant, a swarm of Blood Tentacles surrounded me, closing in for the kill.

I parried them effortlessly with my blade.

Click.

I took one casual, deliberate step forward.

"Wha—!?"

"No way—!?"

I could feel the shock in the air. Yeah, that’s it. Bask in the sheer presence of that one step. Everyone there felt the weight of it.

Another step. Click.

I didn't even use my sword this time. The massive swarm of tentacles just whipped past me, almost like they were actively trying to avoid me.

To anyone watching, it must have looked like a magic trick. The Queen of Blood’s tentacles were slashing at nothing but thin air. I’d already seen through every single movement. I dodged with the bare minimum effort, closing the distance bit by bit.

I’m not even looking at the tentacles. They’re beneath my notice.

When she tried to pull a "teleport behind you" move, I sidestepped before she even finished appearing, acting like I’d predicted it from the start.

I didn't counter. Countering is a waste of energy.

I just ignored everything and kept walking. My eyes were locked solely on the Queen of Blood's main body.

Click. Click. Click.

The sound of my boots echoed strangely loud through the silence.

Then, I stopped.

The tentacles stopped with me. We were finally within arm's reach.

The beautiful Queen of Blood and I stood there, staring each other down for a long moment. She had the Crimson Moon at her back; I was wreathed in Bluish-purple Magic Power.

The previous violence felt like a lie. A heavy silence took over. It was that classic "two legends conversing without words" trope.

"Do you desire death...?"

I let my voice drop into that deep, gravelly abyss-tone I’d been practicing.

"Very well..."

I began pooling an insane amount of Magic Power into my Jet-black Blade. The bluish-purple energy started spiraling inward.

The Queen of Blood extended her Red Claw.

I don't know why, but those claws—the ultimate symbol of terror—looked so flimsy right now.

"Wait!!"

Suddenly, Milia jumped into the fray.

"Elisabeth-sama is a kind person!! We can still start over!!"

She went for the "heroine trying to save the boss" sprint. She’d promised to find a future where everyone ends up smiling, after all.

"Please!!"

She reached out, desperate. I gave her a brief glance.

But a Blood Tentacle swatted her aside before I could do anything.

"I am..."

I let my voice ring out, cold and merciless.

Milia tumbled across the floor but looked up immediately. The Queen could have turned her into a pincushion if she’d wanted to, but Milia didn't have a single scratch on her.

"Elisabeth-sama!!"

I think the Queen looked at her for a split second. Her red eyes looked just as kind as they had in the past.

"...I Am Recovery Atomic."

Red claws met my jet-black blade, and the world was painted in Bluish-purple Light.

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BETA

"Ugh..."

I must have passed out.

When I finally opened my eyes, the night was quiet, bathed in the soft glow of the Red Moonlight. Everyone around me was still unconscious. Looks like I was the first one up.

My master was nowhere to be found.

He probably already rushed off to the next battlefield. He really is such a busy... yet kind person.

"Thank you, Master Shadow..."

I noticed my injuries were gone and couldn't help but smile. Number 664, 665, and 666 were all completely healed too. Naturally, his sister and Milia didn't have a scratch on them either.

He’d even gone through the trouble of healing Juggernaut and Yukime.

"I guess Eta's hypothesis was right..."

I pulled out a small vial to collect the Queen of Blood's blood. Then, focusing my mind, I took the blood stains on my bodysuit and... made them float.

If I train this, will it actually be useful? Sigh... I have a feeling I’m just going to end up as an experimental sample for this. Eek!

I flicked the blood at my subordinates to wake them up.

"Ow!"

"What!?"

"Where are we...?"

"Stop napping," I told the three of them. "We’re leaving."

"Y-Yes, ma'am!"

They scrambled up in a panic.

"Damn... what happened?" Juggernaut groaned.

"How did it end...?" Yukime added.

The two powerhouses of the Lawless City were finally awake. They looked around, completely dazed.

"Wait... did he do this!?"

"Shadow-han... just what the hell are you...?"

The Crimson Tower had vanished.

The two of them stared up at the empty sky where it used to be, trying to burn his power into their memories.

"Well then, let's go," I said, turning on my heel.

"Nngh..."

"Elisabeth-sama!?"

Behind me, Claire and Milia were finally waking up. I glanced back to see Milia pulling someone out from under the debris.

"Elisabeth-sama! Oh, thank God... never again..."

With the sound of her crying at my back, I whispered to myself.

"I hope you find it this time... your 'Land of Rest'..."

I melted away into the darkness.

"Mission complete," I chuckled softly before vanishing completely.